Otokichi

Birthday song: N/A (1948 is a Jurassic Age?) Age 18 US: "Daydream Believer"-The Monkees UK: "Green Green Grass of Home"-Tom Jones AUS: "Friday on My Mind"-The Easybeats I didn't like the PreFab Four, Tom Jones was seeking the room keys and knickers of middle-aged women, and I know nothing about The Easybeats. (I hope they were somewhat Hip in OZ.)

I see that Chuck Berry made the list, but Little Richard didn't. Oh well, must be the lipstick or his other ecclesiastical identity that made him as unacceptable as...Michael Jackson.

PotAhToe or PoTAYtoe, GlAYde or GlaDAY, Meter or Metre, at least it's not "Le Lehighe."

On "The Postman": I made the mistake of reading David Brin's Odyssey-like tale of resurrecting part of the world one letter at a time before seeing the movie. (Romance!? What a crock! What was a fast-paced tale of deception, action, and redemption took forever to get over 1/3 of the book.) "Gordon Krantz" started out as a con man seeking to trade letters for food, and found himself feeding souls hungry for contact, and answered his own question: "Who will take responsibility for these foolish children?" Still, taking over the Holnist army in a one-on-one contest came close to making this waste of movie film stock palatable.

Hmm, prime ham and TV sports vs. Culture. Your Cro-mag other sounds like he wants to stay in the cave, while you want to get your dancing shoes on. Tell Ogg-the-ham-eater that you got a telephone call from a long-ago beau who will take you anywhere, anytime. If your caveman has any sense, he'll put on his wolfman suit and join you as you two howl in civilized places far from the Man Cave.

So, what song did Yoko Ono license to J.C. Penney? One of his obscure ones? An instantly recognizable ones? (As memorable as Vince Guaraldi's "Linus and Lucy" or as obscure as "Star Song"?)

J.C. Penney left Hawai'i some years ago, so I have no idea which John Lennon song is being used. Could you enlighten me on Yoko Ono's latest move to twist Beatles fans into a tizzy?

"Are you talkin' to ME?" (I fear a "Travis Bickle" response to these stressors is imminent.) So...Beat The Drum! I still hear the snares in the square Colours ablaze in the evening The air was still down the stormy hills It's good to be young and daring She was the pride of the summer that year She was my sweetheart, my lady We walked to Black Rock and stopped by the Loch It's good to be young and daring [Chorus] Beat the drum, Beat the drum Like a heartbeat, Lonely and Strong Beat the Drum Across the bay I can still hear the strains The two step loud and blaring We walked hand and hand to the beat of the band It's good to be young and daring I still hear the snares in the square Colours ablaze in the evening She was the pride of the summer that year It's good to be young and daring (Check out a Great Big Sea concert ASAP.) :guitar:

Instead of just massaging one part of the body, put on a blindfold, lather up your hands with scented mineral oil, then...imagine that you're Michelangelo, sculpting your beloved out of a mass of malleable clay. Now what kind of music would be appropriate? Why, Ravel's "Bolero," of course! If all goes as expected, neither of you will be get bored, though the neighbors might complain about the noise!

How can you mention "Television," "Icon," and NOT remember Ernie Kovacs?

Do these lyrics bring back memories? "Baby, if you’ve ever wondered, Wondered whatever became of me, I’m living on the air in Cincinnati, Cincinnati, WKRP. Got kind of tired packing and unpacking, Town to town and up and down the dial Maybe you and me were never meant to be, But baby think of me once in awhile. I’m at WKRP in Cincinnati." In spite of the generic Rock music in the DVD soundtrack, I found this late-1970's first season set enjoyable. An early standout is the infamous "Turkeys Away" episode, which features Richard Sanders' visual description of a Thanksgiving Turkey drop. (Arthur Carlson: "As God is my witness, I thought Turkeys could fly!") Another addition to the collection is "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries" (Seasons 1-3) that ran on PBS' "Mystery!" series until recently. A early "TV on DVD" disappointment set from a video AND audio standpoint was "Northern Exposure" (The Complete? First Season), which was edited for maximum commercial time with a generic music track. I see that "Picket Fences" is also out on DVD, and the "sexy doctors" first season of "St. Elsewhere." So what would you like to find in your Christmas stocking this year?

Weren't Jim Seals and Dash Crofts studio musicians before they paired up and made their own kind of history?

Old Folkie that I am, it's a tossup between Jim Croce or Harry Chapin. (Otherwise, a member of Great Big Sea.)

But where would "Fleet Street" and scandal rags like The National Enquirer find replacements if Hollyweird's replacement writer campaign was successful?

"Michael Jackson"? Oh yes, "the gloved one" back when music videos were marvels of choreography and spirit. It's time for MJ to shift gears and ponder what Queen Latifah has done since her Hip-Hop days. It's a shame that MJ doesn't play the trumpet or cornet; he could make a play for Louis Armstrong's mantle. Oh wait, that would require humility.

Drop by http://last.fm and check out the "Christmas" group. At least one poster admits to "roasting chestnuts over an open fire" on November first. Since the stores are playing "Jingle Bell Rock," 'tis the season for Noeltunes. (The local Borders has a whole section set aside for "Christmas music," instead of the usual "2 for $22" music CD overstock!) On this computer, Mason Williams' "Greensleeves" occasionally plays when iTunes is set to "random." So go for it, and watch out for sharpened-Holly-stake-bearing Scrooges!

(Cracks open "The Hard And The Easy" CD case and extracts the booklet.) "The Mermaid" is a cover, with the original written by Phil Hillier. Currently, GBS' distributor is Rounder Records as of "Courage & Patience & Grit." (Their third live album to date.) Recent credited songwriters are: Alan Doyle, Sean McCann, and Bob Hallett. This band has been shaking up the rafters of various concert venues since 1993, which doesn't exactly make them an unknown Indie group. According to a poll on the GBS official website, this song is the most popular among voting fans: "When I Am King" (Alan Doyle) Wake up, without a care. Your head's not heavy, conscience clear Sins are all forgiven here, yours and mine Fear has gone without a trace It's the perfect time, it's the perfect place Nothing hurting. Nothing sore. No one suffers anymore, The doctor's found a simple cure. Just in time [Chorus] All these things if I were King would all appear around me The world will sing when I am King The world will sing when I am King She walks right in she don't even knock. It's the girl you lost to the high school jock She shuts the door and turns the lock, and takes your hand. She says she always felt a fool, for picking the Captain over you She wonders if you miss her, says she always told her sister That you're the best damn kisser That she's ever had [bridge] Daylight waits to shine until the moment you awaken So you never miss the dawn No question, now, you know which road you're taking Lights all green, the radio plays just the perfect song Well, the war's been won. All the fights are fought You find yourself in just the spot It's a place where everybody's got a song to sing. Just like the final movie scene. The prince will find his perfect queen The hero always saves the world. The villains get what they deserve The boy will always get the girl When I am King This tune is off their 2004 "Rock & Roll" album, "Something Beautiful," and there are more gems on this album if the world is getting to you. :guitar:

One final note: Great Big Sea MP3s can be heard at http://mog.com. In addition, there are music videos on YouTube if you're curious about these New Foundland Celt-Rockers.

It was late Summer, 2004 when I spotted a PBS special on Great Big Sea. This was a concert/party, with fans "getting vertical" and singing as loudly as the band on stage. This led to the "Great Big DVD & CD" release, which captured the look/feel of GBS. Here's a cover that caught my interest: "When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down)" I am the fountain of affection I'm the instrument of joy And to keep the good times rolling I'm the boy, I'm the boy, You know the world could be our oyster, You just put your trust in me, Cause we'll keep the good times rolling Wait and see, wait and see....oh wait and see! His exhaltation, a sweet disintegration. A few discolorations, then it comes along up is why he chooses, the kisses and the bruises There ain't nothing he refuses, then it comes along It comes along, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted! [Chorus:] When I'm up I can't get down Can't get down, can't get level When I'm up I can't get down Get my feet back on the ground When I'm up I can't get down Can't get down, can't get level When I'm up I can't get down Get my feet back on the ground He just needs, something to blind him Something to wind him up It won't take long to find him When it comes on strong. Wise guys are grinning, street lights are spinning The night is just beginning, and then it comes on strong It comes on strong, and I am lifted, I am lifted, I am lifted! [Chorus] Oh it comes on strong, and I am lifted. It comes on strong, and I am lifted. I am lifted, I am lifted! Chorus GBS also writes interesting originals: "Ordinary Day" I've got a smile on my face, I've got four walls around me The sun in the sky, the water surrounds me I'll win now but sometimes I'll lose I've been battered, but I'll never bruise, it's not so bad [Chorus] And I say way-hey-hey, it's just an ordinary day and it's all your state of mind At the end of the day, you've still got to say, it's all right. See that girl on the street, what keeps her from dying Let them say what they want, she won't stop trying She might stumble, if they push her 'round She might fall, but she'll never lie down [Chorus] It's a beautiful day, but there's always some sorrow It's a double edged knife, but there's always tomorrow It's up to you now if you sink or swim, Keep the faith and your ship will come in. Then, there's a tale of strong drink: "The Old Black Rum" I drank sixteen doubles for the price of one Trying to find the courage to talk to one I asked her for a dance Not a second glance My night had just begun Well I drink to the father and the holy ghost I'm kneeling at the altar of my nightly post So I'll raise a glass, not the first nor last Come join me in this toast [Chorus:] Because the old black rum's got a hold on me Like a dog wrapped round my leg And the old black rum's got a hold on me Will I live for another day? Hey, Will I live for another day? Well the queen of George street just went walking on by Walking on by with some guy who don't care That she stood in line Since half past nine And spent three hours on her hair (On her hair!) Well her friend is looking at me with an evil grin I think the bloody racket might soon begin I must have said some thing To the George street queen The boys are joining in! [Chorus] So I drank all of my money And I slept out in the rain Everyday is different but the nights they're all the same You never see the sun on the old black rum But I know I'm gonna do it again! [Chorus 2x] From what I've read at Last.FM posters, GBS concert goers really get their money's worth and it's nearly impossible not to "get vertical." :guitar:

I wonder if GBS' repertoire of reworked sea chanties and drinking songs has kept them off Songfacts? I've read that Newfies are considered to be unsophisticated, funny speaking, and often-drunk fisherfolk by urban Canada. (Imagine that, Canadian Rednecks!) Oh well, I'll play "When I'm Up," "Seagulls," and "Captain Kidd," assured that MusicStrands and Last.FM folk know a great band when they hear them.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=a76WF0GvMHFk&refer=muse The "Camelot" broadway soundtrack was playing on the record player back in 1967, when "Sir Lancelot" introduced himself in "C'est Moi" and I began to appreciate the difference between movie and stage singers. I used to wonder if Robert Goulet considered a "Man of La Mancha" movie to challenge Richard Kiley's landmark reading of "The Impossible Dream." Naah, old musicals don't register with the iPod generation, do they? :sleepy:

I suspect that life after death could be interesting, though the movie "Flatliners" suggested that the first thing one would face was one's greatest sin/guilty memory. "Beetlejuice" showed that suicide only led to clerical work processing unruly spirits. However, "After Life" suggested that NOT making a choice of a terminal memory would result in staying at the way station to help create same for arriving/departing spirits on the way to the next station. Well, I'm hoping for the incredibly interesting trip across the universe found in "Brainstorm." :sleepy:

Reconsidering a line from "Field of Dreams": "No you didn't experience the 60's, you just took two 50's and moved on to the 70's!" Here's what I didn't do in the 1960's: *I smelled it, breathed it, but didn't light up or inhale it. *I never dropped Acid, shot up with Heroin, took Speed, or ate Peyote tabs. *With the Sexual Revolution in full bloom, I've never done it. *I didn't burn my draft card. *I wasn't a Beatles fan. I preferred The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, Cal Tjader, and Folk music. *I made a few skyrockets into bombs in high school, but didn't sign on with SDS at university. *I was an ROTC trooper in high school, but eschewed Khaki and spitshines at college. *I didn't pick up a guitar, sitar, or synthesizer. *I didn't go to Woodstock, but I went to several Diamond Head Crater Celebrations. *I forsook Rock and Jazz for a time as the Hawaiian Music Renaissance of the 70's appeared. :sleepy:

Turn! Turn! Turn! (Pete Seeger) performed by the Byrds. To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to build up,a time to break down A time to dance, a time to mourn A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time of love, a time of hate A time of war, a time of peace A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven A time to gain, a time to lose A time to rend, a time to sew A time to love, a time to hate A time for peace, I swear its not too late It was 1967, I was coming in contact with a wide variety of people, music, politics. There was a military draft, so some signed up for military service after high school, while others left for Canada or Sweden. Some did drugs, others chose to "love the one you're with," and things got very Black or White for a while. I often wonder how people got through the 60's without some kind of damage.

The family across the street's boys were LedZep fans and played LPs loud enough to be heard very clearly, often, and repeatedly. Then they bought guitars and practiced "Whole Lotta Love," etc. often enough so that I shudder when I hear the opening chords to "Stairway.." etc. So, I don't know anything about "Tangerine." I'll have to bop over to Amazon or Allmusic for a 30 sec. sample.